Safety connector

ABSTRACT

A safety connector for high energy electrical distribution systems. An output bushing or source plug on a source of power, such as a transformer has an apertured insulating body having a conductive portion at each end. An apertured T-shaped insulating sleeve includes an intersecting apertured distribution conductor at a position intermediate its ends that is held in place by an apertured bushing. One end of the insulating sleeve receives the output bushing, and the other end receives one or the other of a pair of connect or disconnect plugs. The connect plug has an axially extending conductive portion that extends through the aperture in the distribution conductor and the apertured body of the output bushing to conductively engage the conductive portion at one end of the output bushing. The disconnect plug has a conductive portion extending axially from one end to another so that one end may be grounded while the other end is in conductive engagement with the aperture in the distribution conductor. The plugs are provided with indicia to show the status of the connector.

United States Patent [19'] Robertson 1 June 19, 1973 SAFETY CONNECTOR [76] Inventor: Eugene P. Robertson, 9820 w. 16th ABSTRACT Street Salm Louis Park A safety connector for high energy electrical distribu- 55426 tion systems. An output bushing or source plug on a 22 i d; M 11, 1972 source of power, such as a transformer has an apertured insulatin body havin a conductive ortion at [21] Appl' 252372 each end. An a pertured T-s aped insulating sleeve includes an'intersecting apertured distribution conductor [52] US. Cl. 339/206 R, 174/73 R, 339/61 R at a position intermediate its ends that is held in place [51] Int. Cl H0lr 13/50 y an apertured g- One end of the a ng 53 Field of Search 339 59 59 L, 59 sleeve receives the output bushing, and the other end 339 0 R, 0 c 0 M, 1 1 c 1 1 receives one or the other ofa pair ofconnect or discon- M,1ll,ll2 11,112 L,ll7 R,ll7 P,l36 R, nectplugs- 136 136 143 143 C, 143 ST, 206 R, The connect plug has an axially extending conductive 206 207 207 208, 209, 210 R, 210 portion that extends through the aperture in the 210 337/201 distribution conductor and the apertured body of the output bushing to conductively engage the conductive References Cited portion at one end of the output bushing.v The UNITED STATES PATENTS disconnect plug has a conductive portion extending 3,376,541 4/1968 Link 339/61 R axially from one end to another that one end y be 3 555 4 7 97 Jon s 339 0 R grounded while the other end is in conductive 3,513,425 5/1970. Arndt 337/201 engagement with the aperture in the distribution 3,617,987 11/1971 Sankey 339/1 11- conductor. The plugs are provided with indicia to show the status of the connector. Primary ExaminerMarvin A. Champion Assistant ExaminerRobert A. Hafer 11 Claims 3 Drawing Figures Attorney-Carlsen, Carlsen & Sturm SAFETY CONNECTOR SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A safety connector having a removable compression connection from a service conductor to a power source and from the service conductor to ground.

A T-shaped insulating sleeve is adapted to receive an apertured service conductor so that the aperture is axially aligned with the coaxially aligned pair of legs of the sleeve. An apertured internally threaded bushing is conductively disposed in the apertured conductor to hold it in place and to serve as part of a conductive connection. An insulated source bushing or plug with conductive portions at each end is disposed in one of the coaxially aligned legs of the insulating sleeve. A first end of the plug is adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy and the second end abuts the apertured service conductor and the apertured bushing.

An insulated service connector plug having an axially elongated conductor extending from one end is dis posed in the other of the coaxially aligned legs of the insulating sleeve so that the end of the elongated conductor extends into conductive engagement with the first end of the insulated source plug and the second end of the source plug in compressive engagement with the side of the apertured end of the service connector. A grounding or disconnect plug having an axial conductor extending therethrough is disposed to connect to the bushing in the apertured end of the service conductor when in the other end of the insulated sleeve to provide a conductive connection to the service or distribution conductor only. A terminal may be provided at the other end and suitable status indicia may be incorporated to inform an operator of the status of the service conductor as being connected to the source of energy or disconnected from the source of energy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating a connector embodying the principles of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional fragmentary view of the device of FIG. 1 which illustrates my invention in a disconnected mode of operation; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along section line 3-3 on FIG. 1 of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the

' safety connector of my invention is shown mounted upon the outer shell, or tank of an electrical power transformer. Tank 10 is provided with an aperture 11 for receiving one element of the safety connector so as to provide an insulated access to the windings (not shown) disposed within transformer tank 10.

An output bushing, indicated generally by reference character 14, is shown disposed and mounted upon aperture 11 in tank 10. For this purpose, output bushing 14 includes a mounting flange 21 which may be attached to tank 10 by suitable means (not shown). Output bushing 14 has a coaxially disposed aperture and includes a coaxially disposed conductive input member 15 disposed at a first end. Conductive input member 15 includes a screw thread 16 at its right end for connection to a transformer winding within transformer tank l0 and a threaded aperture 17 at its left end for reception and conductive connection to a conductive member to be described below. One apertured conductive tip is disposed at the second end of output bushing 14. As may be seen on FIG.1 of the drawings, output bushing 14 is comprised substantially of a tapered body of insulating material 20 upon which the several elements referred to above have been suitably mounted.

A T-shaped bushing, indicated generally by reference character 22, is comprised of an insulating sleeve body 23 having a first leg 24 that is substantially perpendicular to second and third legs 26 and 28, which are in axial alignment. First leg 24 includes a tapered aperture 25 extending therethrough and into communication with the tapered apertures 27 and 29 in second and third legs 26 and 28, respectively.

A distribution conductor 31 is shown in operative disposition in aperture 25 in first leg 24 and includes a threaded aperture 32 at its upper end that is in position on the axis of the tapered apertures 27 and 29 in second and third legs-26 and 28. Distribution conductor 31 also includes a threaded hole 33 at its lower end for subsequent connection to other sections of distribution conductors.

In the illustration of FIG. 1 of the drawings, a circuit connector plug 36 is shown having a first metallic end 37 and a second metallic end 38 which extends axially therefrom for a considerable distance and terminates in an externally threaded portion 39. Circuit plug 36 is formed of suitable insulating material to maintain its outer end insulated from the metallic second end portion 38 when disposed in the position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

Distribution conductor 31 is shown held in place by a circuit bushing 40 which is slightly tapered at its left periphery as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings and includes an axially elongated apertured center portion having external threads 41 which may be threadably in engagement with the threaded aperture 32 at the top end of distribution conductor 31, and an internal threads 42 extending completely therethrough.

In FIG. 2 of the drawings, a grounding or disconnect plug 50 comprised of suitable insulating material is shown having a continuous conductor 51 extending completely therethrough from a grounding lug or terminal 53 at its left end to an externally threaded portion 52 at its right end so that it may be conductively threadably inserted into internally threaded aperture 42 in circuit bushing 40.

OPERATION In operation, output bushing 14 is disposed in an aperture 1 l in a transformer tank 10 and suitable connections (not shown) are made to the windings contained within transformer tank 10. The insulated sleeve body 23 of T-shaped bushing 22 is disposed thereon with second leg 26 disposed over the outer tapered portion of insulating body 20 of output bushing 14.

Distribution conductor 31 is inserted upwardly into aperture 25 in first leg 24 so that its threaded aperture is substantially coaxially of aperture 18 extending through output bushing 14. Circuit bushing 40 is threadably inserted to make a good conductive connection with the interior of threaded aperture 32 and the left side surface thereof.

When it is desired to complete the connection from input conductor 15 on output bushing 14 to distribution conductor 31, circuit plug 36 is inserted through third leg 28 of T-shaped bushing 22 so that its second conductive metallic end, 38, extends through the center aperture 42 on circuit bushing 40 and into threaded engagement with the threaded hole 17 on output bushing 14 so that the threaded portion 39 on end 38 effects a conductive engagement with input conductor 15. Circuit plug 36 effects a compression connection between the right face of the enlarged portion of conductor 38, the left face of circuit bushing 40, and the right face of the top of distribution conductor 31 and the left face of conductive portion 19 at the second end of output bushing 14.

When it is desired to disconnect distribution conductor 31 from the output of the windings in tramsformer 10, plug 36 is removed. This does not always provide a satisfactory condition since with the opening in the third leg of T-shaped bushing 22, is exposed and it is possible that an accidental conductive connection may be made. Where there is a likelihood that the distribution system to which conductor 31 is connected may include components which could be capable of supplying electrical energy in an amount sufficient to insure the operator an unsafe condition will be present. It is also very desirable to insure that there is no residual electrical energy present in the circuit to which conductor 31 is connected and for this purpose it is desirable to ground the same.

For this purpose, grounding plug 50 is threadably inserted into third leg 28 of T-shaped bushing 22 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. At this time, there is no possibility that a flow of electrical energy from input conductor on output bushing 14 to distribution conductor 31. However, in the event of a malfunction which might conceivablycause electrical energy to jump the spacing between input conductor 15 and metallic conductive portion 19- on output bushing 14, the connection of terminal 53 on conductor 51 in grounding plug 50 will provide an effective ground to eliminate all possibility of the malfunction, or fault flow of current to other portions of the distribution system to which conductor 31 is connected thereby protecting the operators by maintaining the integrity of the disconnected system.

-lt may occur to those skilled in the art that the tapered apertures shown in the illustrated preferred embodiment may assume other configurations and that the scope of the appended claims is not intended to be limited to the illustrated embodiments with regard to the shape or form of the elements hereinabove described.

I claim:

1. A safety connector comprising in combination;

a. a source plug having a centrally disposed aperture extending longitudinally of an insulated body and conductive portions at first and second ends thereof:

b. a T-shaped insulating sleeve having a longitudinally extending aperture in each of the-first, second and third legs thereof, said second leg being disposed on said source plug, said second and third legs being in axial alignment;

c. a distribution conductor disposed in the first leg of said T-shaped sleeve, said conductor having an aperture disposed intermediate the second and third legs of said T-shaped bushing; and

d. plug means, operable to engage the end of the distribution connector, disposed in the third leg of said T-shaped bushing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the plug means includes a conductor extending from one end through the aperture in the distribution conductor through the conductive portion at the second end of said source plug, and into conductive engagement with the conductive portion at the first end of said source plug.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the source plug, the T-shaped insulating sleeve and the plug means are so dimensioned as to provide a compression engagement between adjacent side faces of the conductor on the plug means, the side faces of the distribution conductor, and the side face of the second end of the source plug.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which a circuit bushing having an internal threaded aperture on an external threaded portion is threadably disposed in the threaded aperture in the end of the distribution conductor.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 in which a circuit bushing having an internal threaded aperture on an external threaded portion is threadably disposed in the threaded aperture in the end of the distribution conductor.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 in which a circuit bushing having an internal threaded aperture on an external threadedportion is threadably disposed in the threaded aperture in the end of the distribution conductor.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the apertures in the sleeve and the plugs are of complementary tapered configuration.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the plug means includes a conductor extending therethrough into conductive engagement with the aperture in the distribution conductor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the conductor includes a terminal at the other end.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 in which a circuit bushing having an internal threaded aperture on an external threaded portion is threadably disposed in the threaded aperture in the end of the distribution conductor.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 in which a side of the conductor in the plug is in effective conductive engagement with the side of the distribution conductor adjacent said aperture. 

1. A safety connector comprising in combination; a. a source plug having a centrally disposed aperture extending longitudinally of an insulated body and conductive portions at first and second ends thereof: b. a T-shaped insulating sleeve having a longitudinally extending aperture in each of the first, second and third legs thereof, said second leg being disposed on said source plug, said second and third legs being in axial alignment; c. a distribution conductor disposed in the first leg of said Tshaped sleeve, said conductor having an aperture disposed intermediate the second and third legs of said T-shaped bushing; and d. plug means, operable to engage the end of the distribution connector, disposed in the third leg of said T-shaped bushing.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the plug means includes a conductor extending from one end through the aperture in the distribution conductor through the conductive portion at the second end of said source plug, and into conductive engagement with the conductive portion at the first end of said source plug.
 3. The apparaTus of claim 2 in which the source plug, the T-shaped insulating sleeve and the plug means are so dimensioned as to provide a compression engagement between adjacent side faces of the conductor on the plug means, the side faces of the distribution conductor, and the side face of the second end of the source plug.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which a circuit bushing having an internal threaded aperture on an external threaded portion is threadably disposed in the threaded aperture in the end of the distribution conductor.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 in which a circuit bushing having an internal threaded aperture on an external threaded portion is threadably disposed in the threaded aperture in the end of the distribution conductor.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3 in which a circuit bushing having an internal threaded aperture on an external threaded portion is threadably disposed in the threaded aperture in the end of the distribution conductor.
 7. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the apertures in the sleeve and the plugs are of complementary tapered configuration.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the plug means includes a conductor extending therethrough into conductive engagement with the aperture in the distribution conductor.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the conductor includes a terminal at the other end.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 in which a circuit bushing having an internal threaded aperture on an external threaded portion is threadably disposed in the threaded aperture in the end of the distribution conductor.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8 in which a side of the conductor in the plug is in effective conductive engagement with the side of the distribution conductor adjacent said aperture. 